Departments
Administrative Services / Building / Planning / By-Laws / Child Care / Financial Services / Fire and Emergency Services / Parks and Recreation / Public Works and Engineering Services
Administrative Services
All municipalities must provide administrative services and appoint such officers as are required under the Municipal Act, whose role relates to administering the policies and programmes established by the municipal council. For the Town of Hearst, the municipal responsibilities of administrative officers are combined under a single administrative structure performing the functions of: CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER / CLERK
This Department's objectives encompass all of the objectives associated with every municipal department delivering services directly to residents. In addition, it has the following purposes:
- Administering Council's policies and programmes and ensuring that they are carried out
- Managing municipal resources
- Informing the public about Council's policies and programmes
- Providing advice to Council and ensuring that the legislative process is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Building
The Department provides information, plans approval and inspection services for the built environment of this community. The primary objectives are:
- to ensure that property owners and tenants can enjoy safe, healthy and sound buildings
- to ensure that buildings and properties do not pose safety, fire or health hazards or inconvenience for neighbours and the public at large.
The Department is thus concerned with new construction (including additions and renovations to existing buildings), existing buildings, and their surrounding yard areas. The activities of the Department are authorized by Municipal By-laws, which are usually mandated by Provincial legislation. The Department co-ordinates and performs its responsibilities with other municipal departments: fire, by-law enforcement, public works as well as other public agencies such as the Porcupine Health Unit. For more detailed information on these subjects, your responsibilities during construction and applications available from the Department, please contact the Department staff.
More Information - Building Department
Planning
The Department provides information and services to guide and facilitate land use and growth, including redevelopment, within this community. The intent is to provide long term certainty to property owners, and promote public confidence while enhancing our physical surroundings and the liveability of the Town.
Long term growth is guided by policies set out in the Official Plan of the Hearst Planning Area. The policies are implemented by the Zoning By-law. Both affect the community as a whole, but are also relevant on a site-specific or individual property basis. They also affect lot creation, whether by plan of subdivision involving multiple lots or by consents for no more than 4 lots. Large scale commercial, industrial, multiple residential and institutional development may also be subject to site plan control, which can regulate building location and the site amenities.
More Information - Planning Department
By-Laws
Enforcement Services
The Municipal By-law Enforcement Department is responsible for ensuring the numerous by-laws passed by Hearst Council are respected and complied with. This Department’s mandate is not limited solely to enforcement however, as it also plays a significant role in informing and educating citizens about by-laws, in resolving concerns and in assisting the public with municipal procedures. In addition to working jointly with other Municipal Departments, it frequently cooperates with outside agencies in the delivery of educational and safety programmes, which are beneficial for everyone.
More Information - By-Laws Department
Child Care
Day Care Center
The "Garderie bouts de chous" daycare facility is located at 1100 Edward Street, adjacent to Hearst’s central school district and the Claude Larose Recreation Centre. The facility is licensed by the Ministry of Community and Social Services, and can provide care for a maximum of 70 children between the ages of 12 months and 12 years old.
Operating Hours
The daycare is open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. Licensed child care services are also available after hours and on weekends through the Town’s Familicare Agency.
More Information - Child Care Department
Financial Services
All aspects of municipal finances are primarily regulated by the Municipal Act, R.S.O. 1990 and amendments thereto. This Act establishes specifically how a municipality can collect or borrow its funds, how a municipal can spend or save its funds and how its financial transactions must be reported. It is the Finance Department's responsibility to ensure that the Town of Hearst complies with all of the requirements of this Provincial legislation.
More Information - Financial Services
Fire and Emergency Services
The Hearst Fire Department was first established in 1922. Over the years, its mandate has evolved in response to the needs of the community and the requirements of Provincial legislation. The Department operates under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act 1997 and By-law No. 70-89 of the Town of Hearst. It focuses on two crucial responsibilities: Fire Protection Services and Fire Prevention Services. Fire protection services may be delivered cooperatively with external agencies (Fire Marshal, OPP, MNR, etc.), while fire prevention duties are often performed jointly with other Municipal departments (Building, By-law Enforcement, Public Works, etc.). The Department also provides other emergency services to the community.
Parks and Recreation
Public Works and Engineering Services
Find us at the Municipal Garage, 416 George Street. Both Public Works and Engineering Services are responsible for the Town's infrastructure and often work together to ensure that vital services are continuously available to the community and touching almost every aspect of daily life: the Fire Department relies on adequate water supplies to fight fires; the airport counts on efficient snow removal for aircraft safety on runways; ambulance and police services depend on safe roads. All of us use the services of this Department to access our homes, schools and workplaces, to prepare our meals and wash our clothes
More Information - Public Works and Engineering Services